What's your squad look like?

[Welsh Exile]

You could make the argument that what Farrell has done is worse than Gatland. What Gatland did was show favouritism to Welsh players because he knew them better. Farrell is showing favouritism to his son as well as showing the understandable favouritism to both the Irish and English as he knows them better.

I think this would be a tad harsh on the framing front but Farrell is way past his best which makes it worse imo.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

You can use logic all you want, but sometimes there are simply greater forces at play and you just know there's an 83rd minute Iceman moment written in the stars for the 3rd test.

 

[McTallshort]

Don't know what to say. Just don't see any sense in that decision at all

 

[General Melchett]

You can use logic all you want, but sometimes there are simply greater forces at play and you just know there's an 83rd minute Iceman moment written in the stars for the 3rd test.

Iceman Bernard Foley coming out of international retirement and slotting over the winning kick for the Wallabies?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I wonder how the wider squad view this. There was huge tension with the geographical 6 in 2017. I doubt we'll ever find out but it would be interesting to get squad thoughts on the 2025 biological 1.

Doubt the squad mind tbh (unless he like parachutes in to start the tests or something), he's pretty universally loved by coaches and players alike, it's only fans that have an issue with him

 

[Welsh Exile]

Don't know what to say. Just don't see any sense in that decision at all

The sense is it’s his son and he doesn’t want him to miss out.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

I wonder how the wider squad view this. There was huge tension with the geographical 6 in 2017. I doubt we'll ever find out but it would be interesting to get squad thoughts on the 2025 biological 1.

Biological 1

I suspect that AF will have taken soundings from both coaches and senior players before doing this. Both Farrells are massive competitors but also seemingly top notch team men too, so I suspect this will have been properly thought through and given he’s not a like for like replacement there’s also clearly a wider issue at play.

Suspect most players will be fine - a lot know, and seemingly respect, him anyway and he wouldn’t be the only one there on reputation. If there was to be a problem it might come if he was parachuted straight into the test team at the expense of a form player which I really can’t see happening.

 

[Welsh Exile]

A penny for Marcus Smiths thoughts.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

A penny for Marcus Smiths thoughts.

"What should I upgrade my G-Wagon with fam?"

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

A penny for Marcus Smiths thoughts.

France, probably.

 

[General Melchett]

A penny for Marcus Smiths thoughts.

"That's just great! I'm now fourth choice ten, can't play FB for toffee and I'm too small and lightweight to even hold tackle bags"

 

[Rugbyfan564]

France, probably.

When does his contract expire. Think the RFU will be very reluctant to let him go as Farrell and Ford are both old and injury prone and then it's only him and F Smith. There is no guarantee Owen will be fit enough or in form enough for the World Cup in 2 years.

 

[mikebrownsauce1512]

bashing someone on the head with force.

Sounds almost like rugby

 

[ncurd]

as well as showing the understandable favouritism to both the Irish and English as he knows them better.

Has he? I dodn't think any nation can be particularly aggrieved by any inclusions so far.

 

[Welsh Exile]

Has he? I dodn't think any nation can be particularly aggrieved by any inclusions so far.

Oh no I’m not aggrieved at all. Ireland and England were always going to make up the majority of the squad on merit (less so England to be fair especially as Scotland have been great)

I’m not blaming him at all, but, you know, Wales used to be a good rugby nation as well back when Gats was managing the Lions.

 

[ncurd]

Oh no I'm not aggrieved at all. Ireland and England were always going to make up the majority of the squad on merit (less so England to be fair especially as Scotland have been great)

I'm not blaming him at all, but, you know, Wales used to be a good rugby nation as well back when Gats was managing the Lions.

I think the issue then was the lack of Irish/English selections in the more fringe areas. Plus Adam Beard

 

[Saintjay]

Doubt the squad mind tbh (unless he like parachutes in to start the tests or something), he's pretty universally loved by coaches and players alike, it's only fans that have an issue with him

I'd have issue with an Owen Farrell OnlyFans as well tbh.

 

[Which Tyler]

Maybe, I thought he was a steady head in England's RWC team.

No secret I place heightened value on playmakers managing territory very well and decision making around that, I very possibly overvalued it, but feel like he has always been a key contributor in that regard.

Owen falls down on the very first of your requirements though - he's no playmaker.

I agree that game management is the most important skill for a FH - but that's not the same as knowing the playbook inside out, and playing every single phase the way it's been planned. IMO, that's not playmaking, it's fanatical devotion to the pope head coach.
The FH should be adapting things play by play, exposing weaknesses, mismatches and dog-legs as they occur, spotting the wrong player covering the backfield and putting the ball there. Farrell is "this is the 3rd 10-minite period, 4th phase, and the ruck has been set within a 5m radius of the intersection of our left 15m line and our own 10m line. Therefore I kick the ball to that point there and hope the opponent hasn't noticed that that's what always happens in this scenario"

 

[Ddanno]

**** this.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Farrell hasn’t been a successful England 10 for a very long time. He doesn’t deserve to be there at all.

Utter disgrace and it must be a massive bias to bring an out of form non international in the incorrect position on tour. There is no other option.

Wrong position
Not in form
Not playing international rugby
Proven to be a bell end